30 OCT 2023
30 colleges plan 3 day strike in November
The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed that staff at 30 colleges across England will participate in a three-day strike from November 14-16, 2023, due to ongoing disputes over low pay. This action follows a ballot in which 32 colleges voted to strike, although two subsequently settled their pay disputes. The strike coincides with the Association of Colleges annual conference and follows GCSE resits.
Dispute Over Pay: The central issue prompting the strike is the ongoing dispute over low pay in the Further Education (FE) sector, with a highlighted average salary gap of around £7,000 between school teachers and FE college teachers.
Previous Settlements: The UCU has successfully settled disputes at 15 other colleges, resulting in pay rises of up to 8.5%.
AoC’s Recommendation: The Association of Colleges (AoC) last month advised its members to offer a 6.5% pay rise to staff, aligning with what is offered to school teachers. However, this is a recommendation, not a mandate, and colleges’ ability to manage this financially is reportedly variable.
Financial Strain on Staff: A UCU survey revealed significant financial struggles among college staff, with 95% reportedly facing difficulties due to low wages, impacting both their mental health and basic living conditions.
Funding Increase: The UCU argues that a substantial increase in funding for colleges should enable a fair pay award, while the AoC highlights that the allocation of additional funding varies significantly between colleges.
Recommendations from AoC:
Address Recruitment and Retention: Utilise the additional £200 million of government funding to address staff recruitment and retention challenges.
Transparency: Colleges should be open and transparent about their financial allocations and how they are addressing pay issues.
Dialogue and Bargaining: Encourage dialogue between union branches and colleges to reach agreements, and explore the potential for new national pay bargaining arrangements.
UCU’s Stance:
Demand for Meaningful Pay Rise: The UCU is adamant about securing a significant pay rise for staff and has demonstrated willingness to engage in strike action to achieve this.
Call for Fair Compensation: The union is highlighting the improved financial situation of colleges as a basis for fair staff compensation.
Potential Impact:
Disruption to Education: The strike is poised to cause disruption, particularly affecting students and the normal functioning of the colleges.
Pressure on College Employers: The impending strike adds pressure on college employers to negotiate and potentially meet the UCU’s demands to avert the strike.
The planned strike at 30 colleges in England underscores the ongoing tension between college staff and employers over pay disparities and financial struggles. While there have been previous settlements, the UCU is pushing for more substantial change. The AoC is advocating for dialogue and transparency, emphasizing the variability in funding allocation and the potential impacts on college operations. The situation necessitates urgent attention and negotiation to prevent widespread disruption and address the longstanding issues of pay in the Further Education sector.
The 30 colleges facing strike action:
Abingdon & Witney College,
Bath College,
Bolton College,
Bournemouth & Poole College,
Brockenhurst College,
Burton and South Derbyshire College,
Calderdale College,
Capital City College Group,
City of Bristol College,
City of Wolverhampton College,
Colchester Institute,
Craven College,
Croydon College,
Farnborough College of Technology,
Gloucestershire College,
Hugh Baird College,
Isle of Wight College,
Loughborough College,
Myerscough College,
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group,
New College Swindon,
Nottingham College,
Petroc,
Runshaw College,
South Thames College,
The City of Liverpool College,
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group,
Warrington & Vale Royal College,
Weymouth College,
Windsor Forest Colleges Group